Sewing machine cabinets



July 26, 1960 E. w. STANTON SEWING MACHINE CABINETS Filed March 13, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.4

IN V EN TOR.

WITNESS Edward WSfanfon A T TORNE Y July 26, 1960 E. w. STANTON 2,946,639

SEWING MACHINE CABINETS- Filed March 13, 1957 a Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

I Edward W Stanton wnwsss F lg. 2 jrronusv July 26, 1960 E. w. STANTON smwmc MACHINE CABINETS Filed March 1:5, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Uite SEWING MACHINE CABINETS Filed Mar. 13, 1957, Ser. No. 645,785

8 Claims. (Cl. 312-257) This invention relates to cabinets and more particularly to cabinets adapted to support a sewing machine in a plurality of positions, of which two positions are the working position and the stored position.

Most domestic appliances employed in the home are used or stored in the kitchen, the laundry, or even the cellar, and thus are not viewed by all who visit the home. This, however, is not true with a sewing machine or a sewing machine cabinet. It is not unusual for a housewife to locate her sewing machine cabinet in a hall, a study or even in the living room. Because of this the cabinet for supporting the sewing machine should be graceful and a thing of beauty. On the other hand, a sewing machine cabinet must be sturdy enough to provide firm support for the sewing machine. This is especially true when the cabinet is used to house a modern high speed zigzag sewing machine. Furthermore, since a housewife often places her sewing machine cabinet in a hall, a study or in a living room she will want the sewing machine cabinet to harmonize in material and design with other furniture in the room. In order to meet the demands of the trade, sewing centers where sewing machine cabinets are sold have, in the past, stocked a large number of different styles of cabinets. This procedure, has been expensive from the manufacturing, shipping and storage viewpoint. In order to alleviate this situation the present invention is directed to an improved form of sewing machine cabinet construction which will not only provide a sturdy support for a sewing machine but which will also provide a sewing machine cabinet that can be converted into any one of several difierent designs, and one of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide an improved sewing machine cabinet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a basic sewing machine cabinet frame to which can be attached legs, panels, and the table-top of many different styles and designs.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved sewing machine cabinet which will not only be graceful in appearance, but which will also be sturdy and able to provide a firm support for a sewing machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved sewing machine cabinet which is constructed partly of wood and partly of metal.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved type of sewing machine cabinet, which can easily be converted into any one of several different styles of cabinets.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved metallic frame which can be used to support wooden or plastic parts and thereby form the basis of many different styles of sewing machine cabinets.

With the above and other objects in View, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the .1 States Patent stantially on a horizontal plane indicated by the lines 22 of Fig. 1, V

Fig. 3 is an elevational sectional view taken substantially on a vertical plane indicated by the lines 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is an elevational sectional view taken through a portion of one of the legs of the cabinet, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the metallic frame which forms part of the sewing machine cabinet.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the invention is disclosed as embodied in a sewing machine cabinet having a metallic frame indicated generally by the numeral 16. The metallic frame 16 forms a sturdy foundation to which a plurality of wooden or other members, presently to the described, are attached' The metallic frame 16 comprises a channel shaped metallic rear panel 17, a channel shaped front metallic panel 18, a channel shaped metallic end panel 19 and a door supporting metallic end panel 21. One end of the rear panel 17 is attached to one end of the end panel 19 by means of a metallic corner bracket 22. If desired, this connection between the bracket 22 and the panels 17 and 19 may be made by spot welding, however, other connective means may be employed. In like manner one end of the panel 18 is secured to the other end of the panel 19 by a second bracket 22. 22 and 22' has a forty-five degree web 23, two ninety degree webs 24 and 25 connected to opposite sides of the web 23, and two flanges 26 and 27, each of the flanges 26 and 27 being connected respectively to the outeredges of the webs 24 and 25. The upper end of each bracket 2222' is provided with a table-top connecting flange 28.

The other end of the rear panel 17 is connected to one end of the door supporting panel 21 by means of a metallic corner bracket 32. 'In like manner, the other end of the front panel 18 is connected to the other end of the door supporting panel 21- by a bracket 32'. The brackets 32 and 32 are the same as brackets 22-22 except that bracket 32 does not have a flange equivalent to flange 27, and except that bracket 32 does not have a flange equivalent to flange 26. Each of the forty-five degree webs 23 of brackets 22, 22, 32, '32 is provided with a hole 33 and an open ended slot 34 adapted to accommodate screws 37 and 38 respectively. Each of the channel shaped panels 17, 18 and 19 is provided with a top flange 39, a bottom flange 41 and a web 42. Each of the webs 42 of the panels 17, 18 and 19 is provided with at least one hole 43 adapted to acconn modate a screw 44. In addition, both ends of each of the panels 17, 18 and 19 (Fig. 2) are formed with a chase 46 formed by making two right angle bends in the ends of the panels 17, 18, 19. The top and bottom flanges 39 and 41 are bent inwardly of the cabinet, while the chases 46 are formed by bending the metal of the panels outwardly. Thus all of the chases 46 are outwardly open. Also the cases 46, formed on opposite ends of the same panel, face one another and are termed facing chases.

' The door supporting panel 21 is formed fromone piece of metal and is substantially four channels formed Patented July 26, 1960,

Each of the brackets ported from the brackets 32-32.'. by having the outer/ flange 49 secured, in one instance to the web 25 ofthe bracket 32, and in the other instance to the web 24 to the bracket 32'. The panel 21 supports a pair of hinges 5252 which in turn pivotally support a wooden cover or door 55 to the inner surface of which is attached an accessory box or holder 54. The inside surface of the wooden door 53 carries a latch 56 which cooperates with a keeper 57 mounted on the panel 21. Reference to Fig. 2 shows that the box 54 is smaller than the opening 51 and is' eccentrically placed with relation thereto. Because of this, the box 54 is able to swinginto and out of the opening 51 as the door 53 is closed and opened.

A table-top 61 is secured to the flanges 39 by a plurality of screws 60 and to the flanges 28 by a plurality of screws 62. The table-top 61 is more or less standard in that it has a machine receiving aperture 63, and the table-top 61 is equipped with sewing machine supporting hinges 64, a front flap 66, and a lifting plate 67. A conventional two-piece cover leaf 68 is, by means of four hinges 69, attached to the table-top 61. When open, the largest portion of the cover leaf 68 is supported, in a known manner, by a leaf-supporting swingrod 71 controlled by a spring 72.

The external surface (Fig. 2) of the rear metallic panel 17 is covered by a rear panel-cover 77. The external surface of the front metallic panel 18 is covered by a decorative front panel-cover 78, and the external surface of the end metallic panel 19 is covered by an end panel-cover 79, the various panel-covers preferably being made of wood. As already indicated, the door 53 is hinged to and covers the end door supporting panel 21. Both lower corners of the three panel-covers 77, 78 and 79 are provided with notches 81 which register with notches 82 formed on the lower corners of the panels 17, 18 and 19, when the panel-covers 77, 78 and 79 are in positions presently to be described.

Each upper end of a pair of legs 92-92' has a fortyfive degree flat 93 which receives the screws 37-38 and lies parallel to the forty-five degree web 23 of the brackets 2222. The lower end of each flat 93 terminates in a shelf 94. Each upper end of the legs 92- 92 also has a pair of grooves 96-96 of such size and location as to receive the external surfaces of those portions of the metallic panels 17, 1S and 19 in which the various chases 46 are formed. The upper ends of a pair of legs 182-402 are similar to the upper ends of legs 9292 except that each of the legs 162102' has only one groove 96.

Reference to Fig. 2 shows that opposite ends of the rear panel-cover 77 are slightly reduced in thickness and that these reduced ends are positioned in the facing chases 46 formed at opposite ends of the rear panel 17. In like manner, opposite ends of the front panel-cover 78 are reduced in thickness and positioned in the facing chases 46 formed at opposite ends of the front panel 18. Also opposite ends of the end panel-cover 79 are reduced in thickness and positioned in the facing chases 46 formed at opposite ends of the end panel 19. The door supporting panel 21 does not have chases and thus the ends of the door 53 are not positioned in chases. However, the door 53 is ofsuch width as to fill the space between between the two legs 102102.

In manufacturing the above described sewing machine cabinet, the metallic frame 16 is made as a unit, and the table-top 61, cover-leaf 68, panel-covers 77, 78, 79, the door 53 and the legs 92, 92, 102 and 102' are manufactured to be used as an assemblage. All of the various parts of any particular assemblage are formed from 4 wood, plastic or any other suitable material of construction. In practice many different kinds of assemblages are produced. For example, in one instance, the various elements which comprise a particular assemblage will be made of mahogany, and in other instances the assemblage will be made of oak, maple, birch, beech or plastic covered etc. An order placed by a sewing center for, say forty cabinets, will comprise forty metallic frames 16, and perhaps ten mahogany, ten oak, ten maple and perhaps five birch and five plastic assemblages. When this shipment is received the sewing center will assemble four or five cabients and hold the remaining material in stock. If they should sell, say ten mahogany sewing machine cabinets, they could order additional mahogany assemblages, which could, of course, be assembled with any of the frames 16 previously received.

. In assembling the sewing machine cabinet of the invention a table-top 61 and cover-leaf 68 are placed upside down on the floor or on a work bench. Then the frame 16 is placed on top of the then upfacing bottom side of the'table-top 61. Then the metallic frame 16 is fastened to the table-top 61 by screws 60 and 62. Thereafter the door 53 is fastened, by use of hinges 52, to the panel 21. Next, the rear panel-cover 77 is slipped downwardly into the two facing chases 46 formed at opposite ends of the panel 17. In like manner, the front panel-cover 78 is slipped into the facing chases 46 of the panel 18. Also the end panel-cover 79 is slipped into the facing chases 46 of the panel 19. Thereafter the screws 44 are passed through the holes 43 and screwed into the panel-covers 77, 78 and 79. Next, the four legs 22, 22, 102 and 102' are forced downward into place, making sure that the external surfaces of the various chases 46 enter the various grooves 96.

When this has been completed the various shelves 94' almost engage (Fig. 3) the ends of the various brackets 22, 22, 3'2 and 32. Also the various notches 81 of the panel-covers 77, 78 and 79 register respectively with the notches 82 of the panels 17, 18 and 19. The length of the grooves 96 are such that the panel-covers 77, 73 and 79 are supported by having the bottom edge of the various panel'covers rest on the lower end of the grooves 96. Screws 37 and 38 fasten the various legs 92, 92', 102 and 102 to the brackets 22, 22, 32 and 32'. Attention is called to the fact that the metallic frame 16 of a fully assembled cabinet is entirely hidden from view by the nonmetallic parts of the assemblage. This is partly due to the chases 46 being completely received in the grooves 96.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim hereinis:

1. A sewing machine cabinet comprising in combination a four-sided four-cornered metallic frame having front, rear, and end panels, one of said panels being a door supporting panel;'a table-top secured to said frame; a plurality of corner brackets, each of said brackets having a fortyfive degree web, and a pair of ninety degree webs; means for connecting said panels to said brackets; a door; means for hinging said door on said door supporting panels; a plurality of chases associated with the panels other than said door supporting panel; panel-covers slipped into said chases; and a plurality of leg members secured to said corner brackets.

2. A sewing machine cabinet comprising in combination a substantially rectangular metallic frame formed from a front member, a back member, and two end members, and thereby providing four corners; a pair of facing chases on certain of said members, said chases beinglocated adjacent to said corners; a non-metallic cover slid into the facing chases of the members provided with said facing chases; and four leg members, certain of said leg members having at least one groove adapted to receive one of said chases,.the grooves of said legs being pushed over said chases in such a manner that said legs hide said chases and hold said covers in place.

3. A sewing machine cabinet comprising in combination a rectangular metallic frame, said frame having four metallic panels and certain of said panels being provided with facing chases formed at opposite ends of said panels; four metallic corner brackets, each of said corner brackets acting to attach adjacent ends of said metallic panels together; a flange formed on the top of each of said brackets; a non-metallic panel-cover slid into the facing chases of the certain panels provided with said facing chases; a table-top secured to the flanges formed on the top of brackets; four leg members, each of said leg members having at least one groove adapted to receive the chase formed end of one of said panels, said leg grooves being pushed over said chase formed ends; and means for securing a leg member to each of said metallic brackets.

4. A rectangular metallic frame adapted to be used as part of a sewing machine cabinet, said frame comprising four metallic panels, certain of said panels having facing chases formed at opposite ends of said panels and thereby providing a pair of chases adapted to receive opposite ends of a non-metallic panel-cover slid into said chases; four corner brackets attaching adjacent ends of said metallic panels to one another, the top of each of said bracket-s having means for securing a table-top thereto, and each of said brackets also having means for securing a leg member thereto.

5. A metallic frame adapted to be used as part of a sewing machine cabinet having a plurality of decorative panel covers, said metallic frame comprising a rear panel having chases formed on opposite ends thereof, a front panel having chases formed on opposite ends thereof, an end panel having chases formed on opposite ends thereof, said chases formed on opposite ends of said panels being adapted to receive opposite ends of said decorative panel covers, a door supporting panel, hinges formed on said door supporting panel and adapted to support a door, a corner bracket connecting one end of said rear panel to one end of said end panel, a corner bracket connecting one end of said front panel to the other end of said end panel, a corner bracket connecting [the other end of said rear panel to said door supporting panel, a corner bracket connecting the other end of said front panel to the other end of said door supporting panel, means carried by said four corner brackets for attaching a table-top thereto,

6 and means for attaching a leg member to each of said corner brackets.

6. A sewing machine cabinet comprising in combination, a metallic front panel, a metallic rear panel, and two metallic end panels, the ends of said four metallic panels being solidly connected together to form a substantially rectangular metallic frame having four corners, a plurality of legs, two of said legs being secured to corners located at opposite ends of one of said panels, and each of said last named legs having a recessed portion which in cooperation with the metallic frame defines a pair of facing chases located adjacent to said two last named legs, and a non-metallic cover for covering said metallic panel, the opposite ends of said nonmetallic cover sliding into said facing chases.

7. In a sewing machine cabinet, a four sided fourcornered metallic frame, a cover for covering part of said frame, portions of said frame adjacent to at least two of said corners being fashioned to protrude and form a pair of facing chases adapted to receive opposite ends of said cover, a pair of leg members, each of said pair of leg members having a groove receiving and thereby strengthening one of the protruding portions of said frame in which said chases are formed, and means for securing said leg member to said frame.

8. In a sewing machine cabinet, a four-sided fourcornered metallic frame, a cover for covering each of three sides of said frame, ends for each of the three sides of said frame, said ends of each of the three sides being fashioned to protrude and to form a pair of facing chases receiving opposite ends of one of said covers-four leg members, each of said leg members having at least one groove receiving and thereby strengthening one of the protruding portions of said frame in which said chases are formed, means for securing said leg members to said frame, and a door hinged to and arranged to cover one side of said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 825,346 Peterson July 10, 1906 1,828,088 Robinson Oct. 20, 1931 2,141,954 Jones Dec. 27, 1938 2,673,776 Barnhart Mar. 30, 1954 2,696,419 Wallance et al. Dec. 7, 1954 

